TNAG-0755-FCO40-959-Security-arrangements-at-Kai-Tak-Airport-1978 — Page 91

HKK OSILL

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVLO IN REY NO. 51-

INDEX

2 A

OFFICER

MKK 24

Martin Reid Esq CMG

CSAD

FCO

My dear Mantai

.સ પૂર્વ

上

382/

20 A

Liler

382 BRITISH HIGH COMMISSION

1978

வலி

Miss Watts,

M.

M. Vanere 012

Now See

P.O.BOX R.W.50

LUSAKA

ZAMBIA

22 May 1978

ces.

subriizza My 92% 25

PARAMILITARY TRAINING FOR THE ZAMBIAN POLICE

1.

25/5

ми. Manofrila

SEE 18)

28

15

Sen 88 3075

17

Mr. Macoun

هاز

SEE

Margins

Mr Lynch-OOM

love an

Fals

Wilted Phiri, Minister of Home Affairs, has made enquiries about training for the paramilitary wing of the Zambian Police. Initially he asked us for advice about commercial companies (e.g., Watchguard) who might undertake the training. We consulted Michael Macoun when he was here and his view was that most of the commercial firms involved in this sort of work were charlatans and that the only worthwhile training would come from a small team of SAS. Phiri has been off sick for some time and it was not until 16 May that we were able to go back to him. He said that he would very much welcome an SAS team if one was obtainable.

2.

For my part I think that such training could do nothing but good. Any steps we can take to improve the efficiency of the Zambian Police should be seriously considered: better the training comes from Britain than some others the Zambians could turn to: and the more effective the training the better for all.

3.

Although Michael Macoun was given to understand that the ; total strength of the Police paramilitary wing was about 1,000, Phiri has checked this and informed us that the exact total is 671. He would like the whole unit trained but realises it may not be possible for them to be trained at once.

4.

In so far as Phiri has defined his requirement it seems that he wants to turn the paramilitary force into a "crack" unit, capable of dealing with hijacked aircraft and putting down banditry (no doubt he has the Mushala gang in mind).

5.

Phiri has asked whether such training, if it could be provided at all, would be part of our technical assistance programme i.e., would we pay for it? He also made the point that it would assist him presentationally with the Zambian Ministry of Defence if he could advertise the SAS team in purely police terms.

By this he means that he would like to be able to say that although the personnel are from the SAS they are nevertheless here as part of our technical assistance to the police and that, so far as his Ministry is concerned, they are not here in their military capacity. Phiri said that he was quite confident the President would support him in this request and regretted that his recent sickness had prevented him from briefing the President to raise it when he was in London.

CONFIDENTIAL

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